Microsoft has now made it possible for users to log into their Microsoft account without needing to use a password at all.

How do passwordless log-ins work?

This passwordless user authentication can use biometrics, the Microsoft Authenticator app or a FIDO2-compatible device to log users into their software or devices.

Many Microsoft services will support this new feature, including outlook.com, Office 365, Skype, OneDrive, Cortana, Microsoft Edge, Xbox Live on the PC, Mixer, the Microsoft Store, Bing and MSN.com. It’s worth noting that in order to use this new feature, users will need Windows 10 (version 1809) installed.

Alex Simons, corporate vice president at Microsoft’s Identity Division says “This combination of ease of use, security and broad industry support is going to be transformational. Every month, more than 800 million people use a Microsoft account to create, connect and share from anywhere to Outlook, Office, OneDrive, Bing, Skype and Xbox Live for work and play. And now they can all benefit from this simple user experience and greatly improved security.”

Passwords became the weak link

Although passwords were designed to protect our digital worlds, it seems as though they became a security target which quickly made them a weak link in the chain.

With the number of online services growing by the day, each with different guidelines and regulations for passwords, it has become understandably difficult for people to remember all of their different passwords. Reusing the same password for multiple services is a huge security risk, but users aren’t left with many other viable options.

To make this matter worse, some passwords are very easy for hackers to guess. Passwords such as ‘12345678’ or ‘password1’ are common weak links that soon allow multiple services to be cracked and should be avoided at all costs.

If you’re worried about the protection or security of your devices, speak to our IT experts and we’ll talk you through the best options for your business. Call us on 01522 883636.